Give us your thoughts on the papal visit

Archive for March 27th, 2008

Allow me to begin by thanking Archbishop Wuerl for his kind invitation to join all of you this morning in this press briefing on Papal Thought in preparation for the historic first visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States of America. It seems so appropriate that we gather here in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, our Patroness and the site of the Holy Father’s meeting with his brothers, the bishops of the United States.

I have been asked repeatedly how His Holiness views our country. As a preamble we might consider some of his recent remarks to Ambassador Glendon at the presentation of her credential letters last February 29 “From the dawn of the Republic, American has been…a nation which values the role of religious belief in ensuring a vibrant and ethically sound democratic order. Your nation’s example of uniting people of good will, regardless of race, nationality or creed, in a shared vision and a disciplined pursuit of the common good has encouraged many younger nations in their efforts to create a harmonious, free and just social order.”(Pope Benedict XVI, Feb. 29, 2008)